Stressed out Tuesday

Whew - I hate snafus. I know, who doesn't. I got a second denial letter from my FSA provider for a claim I sent in properly. The first time they said I hadn't signed the form. I had a fax confirmation form showing that the form was properly signed. I called. A nice young man told me what I needed to do. I did it. Got a denial form yesterday because I hadn't sent the receipts along with the form which the young man told me I didn't have to do if I put the reference # of the signed form. Sigh. I think it's been straightened out.

Then last night I went to sleep ok. Woke up at 1 something in the AM and could not go back to sleep. I did all the things I know work to get myself back to sleep and none of them worked. I counted my breaths. I read. I remained awake. So this morning I didn't want to get up. I hit the snooze. I talked to myself about getting up. I hit the snooze alarm again. Finally I told myself that if I got up, got dressed, and walked to work I could have a container of chocolate skim milk. I walked to work in 38 minutes (counting all the lights I had to wait at) and got my chocolate milk. It tasted so good. I told myself that the rest of the day would feel better because I got in my exercise. So here's to less hassle and more relaxation.

BTW - I have the t-shirt with the cat on it. I get lots of comments when I wear it.

Stress

My life has been very stressful. I used to eat over stress. Over the years I have developed my own ways of dealing with the stressors without using food. I have a list in the back of my day planner and when I feel my life getting out of control I do one of the things on the list. I thought I'd share it with you. Maybe you'd get some ideas from it and anyone who wants to share their methods is invited and welcome to do so. I am always looking for new ideas.

Breathe
Do a yoga tape
Brush teeth
Stretch
Go for a walk
Light a candle

Turn off the TV
Journal
Watch a movie
Read a magazine
Clean something
Shower and wash hair
Body scrub - head to toe
Get a manicure
Do hot oil treatment for my hair
Write an email to a friend
Listen to Collin Raye CD
Watch Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Read the "Big Book"
Work on gratitude list
Listen to "A Medio Vivir", which is a Ricky Martin CD from way before La Vida Loca.
Go to Barnes and Noble or the library
Buy flowers

All these things stop the progression and enable me to sit back and breathe deeply. I look forward to hearing yours.